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Matthew 18:1-8

Listen to Matthew 18:1-8

Who Is the Greatest?

1 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ”
2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you 2turn and 3become like children, you 4will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 5Whoever humbles himself like this child is the 6greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 7“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
6 but 8whoever causes one of these 9little ones who believe in me to sin, [a] it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Temptations to Sin

7 “Woe to the world for 10temptations to sin! [b] 11For it is necessary that temptations come, 12but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!
8 13And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into 14the eternal fire.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 18:1 ch. 17:24; For ver. 1-5, see Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48; [ch. 20:20-28]
  • 2. 18:3 See Luke 22:32
  • 3. 18:3 ch. 19:14; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; [Ps. 131:2; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2]
  • 4. 18:3 [ch. 5:19, 20]
  • 5. 18:4 ch. 20:27; 23:11, 12
  • 6. 18:4 [See ver. 3 above]
  • 7. 18:5 [ch. 10:40, 42]
  • 8. 18:6 Mark 9:42
  • 9. 18:6 Luke 17:2; [1 Cor. 8:12]
  • 10. 18:7 See ch. 13:41
  • 11. 18:7 Luke 17:1; See 1 Cor. 11:19
  • 12. 18:7 ch. 26:24
  • 13. 18:8 ch. 5:29, 30; Mark 9:43-48
  • 14. 18:8 See ch. 25:41

Footnotes 2

  • [a] 18:6 Greek 'causes . . . to stumble'; also verses 8, 9
  • [b] 18:7 Greek 'stumbling blocks'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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